The last time we heard anything about a standalone “Gambit” movie was circa “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” when Taylor Kitsch briefly popped up in the role. But the movie flopped and everyone likes to forget it happened, but it seems the character has now some life with hopes that he can shuffle his deck of cards on the big screen again.

Longtime “X-Men” movie producer Lauren Shuler Donner has revealed she’s got Channing Tatum in the bag for a movie, now she just needs to persuade the folks with greenlight powers to make it. “I’m dying to do a Gambit movie with Channing Tatum,” she told Empire. “That doesn’t have to be a great big movie. It’s a thief in New Orleans, it’s a whole different story. He’s on board, and I have to get the studio on board. How can anyone resist Channing? He’s such a sweetheart.”

This is some pretty surprising news, but perhaps not a total shock, with the actor long professing his love for the character, saying during “White House Down” press rounds last year, “I would like to play Gambit. Gambit’s my favourite.” And it seems that message was heard and received.

As for an actual movie happening, it seems still a bit of a way off, but reading between the lines, Donner seems to be suggesting an inexpensive approach, one that will keep the budget reasonable, especially for a character that isn’t quite in the top tier of the Marvel-verse.